Download English 11 (2011-12) - Connections Academy

English 11 (2011-12)
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credits: 1.0
Description:
In this course, the student will focus on the literary movements that comprise American
literature, and trace the chronology of national literature from the early American and colonial
period through the periods of Realism and Regionalism. In reading these diverse selections, the
student will gain a thorough understanding of fiction, including short stories, poetry and drama;
as well as nonfiction genres, including the oral tradition, seminal historical documents, and
speeches. The student will also read Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s play The Night
Thoreau Spent in Jail. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible may be read instead of The Night
Thoreau Spent in Jail. In reading these American plays and composing a dramatic scene, the
student will understand drama in its historical and literary context.
Writing instruction guides the student through the process of composing a descriptive essay and
modeling the style of an American author. Throughout the course, the student expands his
vocabulary in context. The mastery of both critical vocabulary and grammar skills helps the
student become a more thoughtful and effective reader and writer.
In this course, the student will focus on the literary movements that comprise American
literature, and trace the chronology of national literature from the Modernist through the
Contemporary period. In reading and responding to these diverse literature selections, the student
will gain a thorough understanding of a myriad of fiction and nonfiction genres, including short
stories, essays, poetry, drama, memoirs, and autobiographies. The student will also read F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. Ernest Hemingway’s novella The Old Man and the Sea
may be read instead of The Great Gatsby. In reading these American literature selections, the
student will understand longer works of literature in their historical and literary context.
Writing instruction guides the student through the process of composing a literary analysis and a
research paper. Throughout the course, the student expands his vocabulary in context. The
mastery of both critical vocabulary and grammar skills helps the student become a more
thoughtful and effective reader and writer.
Units:
Early American and Colonial Literature
In Unit 1, Early American and Colonial Literature, you will examine the concept of a national
literature and read different genres that comprise the national literary heritage of the United
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States. You will read and explore the ideas and writing of the New World’s earliest inhabitants,
visitors, and settlers. You will also analyze strategies for persuasive writing as well as the
denotative and connotative meanings of vocabulary words in context. Additionally, this unit will
give you practice in composing timed writings.
American Romanticism
In Unit 2, American Romanticism (1820s–1850s), you will read and analyze the short stories of
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe as well as the poetry of Walt Whitman. You will also
study the subgenre of Transcendentalism. Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" will model the
descriptive writing you will compose for your first portfolio assessment.
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
In Unit 3, you will read and analyze an American drama. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a
play in two acts written in 1970 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The play is comprised
of shifting scenes from the real and imagined life of American writer and philosopher Henry
David Thoreau (1817–1862). Arrested on July 23, 1846 for failure to pay his taxes, Henry David
Thoreau spent one night in jail. The play dramatizes that night, intercutting scenes in which
Henry interacts with his cellmate with flashbacks to events from the years leading up to the date
of his arrest.
For the second portfolio assessment, you will compose a dramatic scene.
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is the recommended play for English 11. Arthur Miller's play
The Crucible may be read instead of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail with prior teacher
approval. Lessons and activities for The Crucible will appear on the lower half of the lesson
pages. Do not proceed with The Crucible unless you have received prior approval from your
teacher.
Realism and Regionalism
In Unit 4, Realism and Regionalism (1860–1914), you will read, analyze, and interpret the short
stories of American Realist and Regionalist authors, as well as the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
As you examine of this literature, you will consider dialect, flashback, characterization,
figurative language, and other devices used by Realist authors. During this unit, you will gain
practice correctly using apostrophes and possessive pronouns. For your third portfolio
assessment, you will select an American short story from Unit 2 or 4 and compose an alternate
ending in the style of the original author.
Semester Review and Exam
In this unit, you will prepare for and take the semester exam. Since this is a comprehensive
exam, it will cover the following units: Early American and Colonial Literature, American
Romanticism, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Realism and Regionalism. Applying the testNational Connections Academy
1001 Fleet St. 5th Floor Baltimore MD 21202
Toll-free 877-804-NACA (6222)
http://www.nationalconnectionsacademy.com
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taking strategies that you have previously learned can help you be successful with the multiple
choice, matching, short answer, and essay questions on the semester exam.
Voices of Modernism (1920s–1940s)
In this unit, you will study the modernism movement, which occurred from the 1920s to the
1940s. You will read and analyze the short stories of authors such as John Steinbeck and F. Scott
Fitzgerald and the poetry of authors suh as Robert Frost. You will also practice identifying and
using different types of verb forms and clauses, as well s independentand subordinate clauses.
For your portfolio assessment, you will apply your research and writing capabilities to compose
a literary analysis showcasing your analytical and synthesizing skills.
Post War Voices Emerge (1950s–1960s)
In Unit 2, you will enter the tumultuous times of post-World War II, during which time many
people fought for change and rights were being demanded. This time in history saw the
emergence of literature that voiced people’s discontent with the mundane life of traditionalism
and a desire for a break in conventional living. In this unit, you will read and analyze the short
stories of Kurt Vonnegut and John Updike as well as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”
speech and poetry by writers of the Beat Generation. You will also identify elements of
adjectival clauses. Your portfolio assessment for this unit will be a comparison-and-contrast
essay in which you analyze the work of two authors.
The Great Gatsby
In this unit, you will examine the narrative structure of The Great Gatsby, a novel that depicts
life among the rich during the Roaring Twenties in New York. As you read, you will analyze
point of view as well as how such literary devices as symbols and allusions enhance the meaning
of the novel. For your portfolio project, you will write a self-improvement plan for the narrator
of the novel. The Great Gatsby is the recommended novel for English 11. Ernest Hemingway's
novella The Old Man and the Sea may be read instead of The Great Gatsby with prior teacher
approval. Lessons and activities for The Old Man and the Sea will appear on the lower half of
the page. Do not proceed with The Old Man and the Sea unless you have received approval from
your teacher.
Contemporary Postmodernism
In this unit, you will study a variety of voices from contemporary postmodernism movement.
The fight against racial and ethnic injustices took center stage during this literary movement that
took place from the 1960s to the 1980s. You will read poetry and prose from authors of several
different backgrounds whose writings contributed to the mosaic of the American culture. In this
unit, you will also practice identifying the principal parts of verbs and using the six verb tenses
as well as different voices and moods of verbs. For your portfolio assignment, you will compose
a memoir.
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Toll-free 877-804-NACA (6222)
http://www.nationalconnectionsacademy.com
[email protected]
The Research Paper
In Unit 5, you will have the opportunity to become an authority on a subject by creating your
own research report. Working through the writing process, you will select a topic, evaluate
sources and conduct research, cite sources properly, draft a report, and revise and edit the report
before publishing it and submitting it for your portfolio. You will also read and analyze several
nonfiction essays by writers of diverse backgrounds. In addition, you will continue to learn about
verb forms and tenses.
Semester Review and Exam
In this unit, you will prepare for and take the semester exam. Since this is a comprehensive
exam, it will cover the following units: Modernism, Postmodernism, The Great Gatsby, and
Contemporary Postmodernism.Applying the test-taking strategies that you have previously
learned can help you be successful with the multiple choice, matching, true/false, and essay
questions on the semester exam. Evaluating how you did on the first semester exam—identifying
areas of weakness and strength—can also help you be successful on this semester’s exam.
Kit:
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LA Novel Kit G11 (Thoreau & Gatsby)
Online Text/eBooks:
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iText American Short Stories
iText Multicultural II
iText Writing with Power 11 (Green) Student Ed
National Connections Academy
1001 Fleet St. 5th Floor Baltimore MD 21202
Toll-free 877-804-NACA (6222)
http://www.nationalconnectionsacademy.com
[email protected]